In the lead up to our Online Annual Assembly, our current NSE want to give our members and potential candidates an insight into their roles. Here we have our Education Officer, Gearoid O’ Donovan, from Waterford.

ISSU is an organisation I was interested in as Education is one of the most important things in young people's lives. I specifically picked the role of Education Officer as I had a desire to help to resolve some of the issues in the area of education affecting students.Of course I wasn’t expecting to fix the system in my year but any small step was a positive.

My role on the NSE is largely about policy and representation. You spend a lot of time writing policy which can be really interesting as you’re helping to change a system of which you’ve seen the issues first hand as a student. You also have amazing opportunities to feed into our education system through attending consultations on behalf of students such as the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. Then there is the general work of the NSE in growing and running the organisation such as organising and attending our own events.

My proudest achievement is our Senior Cycle Policy continuing on from the great work of the previous Education Officer in putting together the survey, it was my chance to put together a document to represent the view of students in what is undoubtedly one of the most important and stressful things we will all do so any chance to help change it is hugely positive.

Say yes to as many opportunities as possible being on the ISSU NSE opens you to many national and international opportunities so say yes and make friends and learn skills along the way. In regards to doing the job of Education Officer definitely say yes to help, some issues are so broad that you can’t be an expert in them all. 

The team that is the NSE. You're going to spend a lot of time with these people and get to know them all quite well. You will have so much fun at events. All my memories of ISSU are lovely, you’ll have a fantastic time between the serious work. 

For more info on how to run for the NSE click here. Deadline for the nominations is the 26th of April!